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Google Visual Search Coming Soon to Android

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the my-donut-shop-returned-goatse dept.

Several sources have shared the news that "Google Goggles," publicly known as Google Visual Search, will be "coming soon" to an Android phone near you. Rather than typing in the search term, you will be able to just take a picture with your phone and search results will be returned. The new search was recently featured on CNBC's "Inside the Mind of Google." Unfortunately Goggles didn't pass muster with a recent focus group, so it could be a while before Google decides this is ready to hit the streets.

14 of 111 comments (clear)

  1. Just one word for you, son--"porn" by gyrogeerloose · · Score: 4, Funny

    The possibilities here are so boundless that it simply boggles the mind.

    --
    This ain't rocket surgery.
    1. Re:Just one word for you, son--"porn" by Rockoon · · Score: 4, Funny

      ..and the chance of them getting working A.I. to handle the suggested visual recognition task reasonably well is so small that it also boggles the mind.

      --
      "His name was James Damore."
    2. Re:Just one word for you, son--"porn" by natehoy · · Score: 4, Funny

      Is that why I took a picture of the Washington Monument and got a wide range of results on specific "medications"?

      --
      "This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
    3. Re:Just one word for you, son--"porn" by gyrogeerloose · · Score: 5, Funny

      "Consult your doctor if you have an erection lasting more than 125 years..."

      --
      This ain't rocket surgery.
    4. Re:Just one word for you, son--"porn" by vodevil · · Score: 4, Funny

      The possibilities here are so boundless that it simply boggles the mind.

      I fear for some people's self esteem...they're going to take a picture of their own dick, and google will return the results... "Did you mean to search for penis?"

  2. Great Idea, but... by Reason58 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Image searching combined with the fantastically bad cameras on all smart phones. Sounds like a good idea in theory, but not so great in practice. For now.

    1. Re:Great Idea, but... by SparkEE · · Score: 5, Insightful

      In the video, a user takes a picture of the sign at Santa Monica Pier and gets a search result. Seems like it would be practical and quicker to have location based information available. Right now I can open up Google maps, hit "My Location", Tap on the building for Santa Monica Pier, and I get it's address. They should just add an option there to do a search. No camera needed, which also means it will work at night.

    2. Re:Great Idea, but... by Sockatume · · Score: 3, Informative

      Google Similar Images is offered, and works quite well, for images of a poorer resolution than even the crappiest phone cams on sale today. Besides, Android handsets have your location and view direction already, which cuts the problem down enormously. I suspect they could do it without any image recognition at all and get remarkably good results.

      --
      No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
    3. Re:Great Idea, but... by edumacator · · Score: 3, Interesting

      That's just eye candy. The real benefit of this is if you a barcode, or a bottle of laundry detergent or a distant landmark, like Stone Mountain in Georgia, and then get relevant information. I know what Stone Mountain is, but someone from out of town wouldn't, so they wouldn't have the name to search...and location based option, while useful, would give you WAY too many results.

      That said, it'll be nice on a few rare occasions, but generally it will be used just for fun. As long as it is free, that's fine with me.

      --
      An important change for education.
  3. Perennial Beta by Fdisk81 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm sure they'll have plenty of time to work out the kinks during Beta.

  4. The goggles by Frohboy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Unfortunately Goggles didn't pass muster with a recent focus group, so it could be a while before Google decides this is ready to hit the streets.

    So, the Goggles... they do nothing?

  5. Why don't they focus on things that matter? by bogaboga · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I wonder why folks at Android (read Google) do not focus on web functionalities that matter in today's age.

    Heck, we need Flash and PDF capabilities by default. Yes...by default. I know there are apps for these but "default" is the key word here. Now what's wrong with that?

    Secondly how come Google's own Google Maps works better on the iPhone than Android phones? It should be the other way round...after all it's their product.

    Come on Google do something.

    1. Re:Why don't they focus on things that matter? by Enderandrew · · Score: 3, Interesting

      bogaboga was complaining Google wasn't doing anything about PDF as a web functionality.

      My point is that Google already takes care of PDF web functionality.

      And actually, if someone mails me a PDF, they're sending it to Gmail, and Gmail will render the PDF as HTML.

      --
      http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
  6. Re:On my next date... by ClosedSource · · Score: 4, Funny

    If she "whips something out" you'd better check for an Adam's apple.